Archive for September, 2008
Who’s Responsible for the Current Global Financial Meltdown: Greedy Capitalists or Public Spirited Politicans?
Posted by Nick Cowen in Economics on 30/09/2008
One minute America’s seemingly riding the crest of an economic boom we are told will never end. The next moment it’s 1929 all over again.
What’s going on and who has brought us to this current sticky pass? Those in search of an explanation of the economic turmoil will find little help from Britain’s mainstream media.
The American blogosphere has some helpful pieces on the issue which I should like to draw to the attention of readers of the Civitas blog. One is a recent posting on the Mises Institute website. It is worth checking out, especially if recent events have begun to dent your confidence in the ability of markets to manage the economy better than government.
‘Make Britain Great Again’-How the Tories could loosen Britain’s ties with Brussels (as well as those within the party)
Posted by David Conway in European Union on 29/09/2008
In an interview held with the The Sunday Times yesterday, former Tory leader William Hague emphasized that, should the Tories win power in 2009 or 2010, a ‘Conservative government could still hold a referendum on Europe, even if the Lisbon Treaty had already been ratified.’ Considering a national ballot on Britain’s EU membership may seem a rather bold and possibly even clever move (if as stated in the article’s comment section the Tories are to ‘make Britain Great again’) – if only there was nothing else on that agenda, writes Judith Gollata.
UK education perpetuating, not breaking, poverty cycle
Posted by David Conway in Education on 26/09/2008
While New Labour’s aim in education has been to generate greater equality, a damning report from the OECD written up in this week’s Times Education Supplement, states that the UK education system ‘still seems to perpetuate rather than break the cycle of inequality’.
The smoking police
Posted by James Gubb in Civil Liberty, Health on 25/09/2008
Ealing PCT’s new campaign to ‘help’ smokers quit goes to the heart of a debate too-often ignored: the proper limits of state intervention in the name of public health.
Now Even Teachers are Giving up on Education
Posted by Nick Cowen in Education on 23/09/2008
Yesterday’s Times reported that a ‘top-ranking state school has slashed the amount of homework set, saying that too much of it can be “depressing” and put children off learning.’ The head of the school that had taken this action was quoted as saying: ‘We felt that homework was taking over…. Ultimately, I don’t think we should set homework at all.’
Without trace of irony, the journalist reporting the item whom the newspaper describes as its Education Editor, stated the change was ‘part of a wider trend in secondary schools to cut back on traditional teaching and learning.’ I’ll say it is!
A Marriage of Convenience
Posted by David Conway in European Union on 23/09/2008
Czech president Václav Klaus has said he will support Declan Ganley if he launches Libertas (the organisation which led the campaign for Ireland to vote ‘No’ to the Lisbon Treaty) as a pan-EU political party at the next European Parliament elections in 2009.
Ganley has said that he intends to transform the 2009 EP election into an ‘EU-wide referendum on the Lisbon Treaty’, therefore Klaus’ pronouncement of support could be a serious worry for Lisbon Treaty supporters because when the EP election is held in early June 2009 the Czech Republic will hold the rotating EU Presidency.